Plan Your Meals to Meet Nutrition Goals During Pregnancy

Throughout the month, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is sharing tips to improve nutrition in recognition of National Nutrition Month. This week, it's all about meal planning. Meal planning is helpful for anyone and especially for pregnant people trying to monitor and manage their nutrition. Here's the list of EatRight's tips for meal planning:

Use a grocery list

Perhaps the most important tool: use a list when you shop! It will help ensure you have what you need to make the meals you choose, and avoid impulse and convenience food buys. Check out these suggestions for making the most of your grocery list. 

Get familiar with the menu when dining/ordering out

When you know what you're ordering, you have the power to choose more healthful options. Read over these specific tips for choosing the best foods when you choose to eat food not prepared at home. 

Choose varied and healthful recipes during the week

The more variety you incorporate into your weekly meals, the more opportunities you have to eat a variety of healthful foods to make the most of your nutrition! Check out these recipe ideas from EatRight.

Don't forget about breakfast -- it fuels your day!

With the time and attention we put into lunches and dinners, it's easy to think breakfast doesn't matter, but it does! How you start your day in terms of what you eat impacts your energy and mood, and even your remaining nutrition choices. Check out these breakfast tips for ideas. 

Include healthful snacks to keep your energy up

Snacks during pregnancy and postpartum are a MUST. What you snack on, as you might imagine, is almost as important as what you eat during mealtime. Some great snack ideas include: DIY trailmix, a smoothie (loaded with fruit and/or greens), air-popped popcorn topped with grated cheese, baked veggie chips, roasted chickpeas, cottage cheese dip, avocado mashed on toast, apple slices with nut or seed butter, yogurt parfait, salad with hardboiled egg. 

Learn more with these three additional tips for meal planning! Find lots more tips and resources in the complete list of National Nutrition Month tip sheets.

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